HelloBaby’s 2025 Fairy Garden Opens with Summer Magic in Woodlawn June 24, 2025
A HelloBaby guest examines Spot at the Fairy Garden opening celebration.
CHICAGO — On Saturday, June 8, 2025, HelloBaby welcomed families from across the city to celebrate one of the most joyful events of the year: the annual Fairy Garden Opening Day. This beloved tradition transforms a quiet green space in Woodlawn into a playful outdoor wonderland for children, sparking imagination and connection while offering a safe place for kids to explore nature — often for the first time.
Each year, HelloBaby partners with Blacks in Green (BIG) to bring the garden to life. Located in The Orchard of the Ancestors, a Native American fruit orchard cultivated by BIG just across the street from HelloBaby’s play space, the Fairy Garden is designed to offer an enchanting and meaningful place for children and caregivers to play, rest, and dream.
“The Fairy Garden is born out of a magical partnership between HelloBaby and Blacks in Green,” said Debbie Frisch, HelloBaby Founder. “The last few weeks of June mark the start of the summer season in Chicago, and our fairy garden is my favorite indication that summer is here. A baby’s development happens when they have the opportunity to explore and be adventurous. Our fairy garden gives them a place to do that — right in their own community.”
A HelloBaby guest searches for Spot the dog in the Fairy Garden.
The Fairy Garden is open to all families in Chicago during the warmer months, offering a peaceful and whimsical outdoor space that complements HelloBaby’s indoor play center. Each summer, the garden is reimagined around a new theme. In 2024, the garden was inspired by Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood. This year’s theme brings to life the world of Spot, based on the classic book series by Eric Hill. From tiny houses to playful details hidden among the plants, the garden invites children to explore a miniature world and imagine creatures who may live there.
The fairy houses are a labor of love, handcrafted each year by Amanda Freeman, HelloBaby’s Marketing Manager. “Building the fairy houses is such a fun and creative outlet,” Freeman said. “I try to use wood I find and other recycled materials whenever possible. The best part is seeing the kids get close, crouch down, and really engage — like they’ve discovered a tiny hidden world just for them.”
On opening day, families gathered to enjoy a festive summer celebration. Children bounced in a large inflatable bounce house, cooled off with treats from an ice cream truck, and dove into crafts and nature-themed activities.
Duane Jarrett, BIG’s Master Gardener, designs and maintains the space each year with skill and care. “We see too much concrete, asphalt, and steel in cities,” he said. “It’s important for children to discover nature — and to be comfortable in it. In this day and age, I don’t think there are enough places to feed children’s fantasies. And those fantasies are one of the most important parts of childhood.”
Blacks in Green Founder and CEO Naomi Davis poses in front of a fairy house.
Naomi Davis, Founder and CEO of Blacks in Green, added, “It’s an ancestral connection between Black people and outdoor spaces. My team and I are grateful to maintain HelloBaby’s beautiful garden for families to enjoy and share the love of our ancestors right in their own neighborhood.”
The impact of this annual event is deeply felt by the families HelloBaby serves. Onesima Manga, a HelloBaby mom who lives in the nearby Bronzeville neighborhood, said that she and her two-year-old son look forward to the Fairy Garden each year. “My son loves running around in the garden, and it’s a great place to be outside in the city where we both feel safe,” she shared.
Tamika Baker, HelloBaby’s Assistant Manager, sees firsthand how the garden feeds young imaginations. “The families of HelloBaby like to explore the fairy garden as a place they can go to engage in their imagination,” she said. “It’s peaceful, playful, and filled with surprises.”
As the summer unfolds, the Fairy Garden will remain open for children and families to visit and enjoy. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, you’re invited to stop by, slow down, and see where the fairies might lead you.
📍 The Orchard of the Ancestors is located at 6044 S. Saint Lawrence Ave., just across from HelloBaby at 600 E. 61st Street.
For more information on BIG visit their website https://www.blacksingreen.org/ .
Amanda Freeman